Shaunavon, Saskatchewan

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Town of Shaunavon
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settlement_type = Town
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Location map
Saskatchewan
label=Shaunavon
lat=49.651
long=-108.412
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = CAN
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = SK
subdivision_type2 = Region
subdivision_name2 = Saskatchewan
subdivision_type3 = Census division
subdivision_name3 = 4
subdivision_type4 = Rural Municipality
subdivision_name4 = Grassy Creek
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Sharon J. Dickie
leader_title1 = Administrator
leader_name1 = Charmaine Bernath
leader_title2 = Governing body
leader_name2 = [http://www.municipal.gov.sk.ca/apps/Pub/MDS/muniDetails.aspx?cat=2&mun=2203 Shaunavon Town Council]
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established_title = Post office established
established_date = 1913
established_title2 = Incorporated (Village)
established_date2 = 1913
established_title3 = Incorporated (Town)
established_date3 = N/A
area_magnitude =
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area_total_km2 = 5.10
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population_as_of = 2006
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population_total = 1,691
population_density_km2 = 347.9
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population_blank1_title = National Population Rank (Out of 5,008)
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timezone = CST
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longd=-108.412 |longm= |longs= |longEW=
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postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = S0N 2M0
area_code = 306
blank_name = Highways
blank_info = Redcoat Trail
Highway 32
Highway 722
blank1_name = Industries
blank1_info = Agriculture
Oil
Tourism
website = [http://www.shaunavon.com/ Shaunavon.com]
|footnotes = [Citation
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title =Post Offices and Postmasters
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title = Municipal Directory System
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title =CTI Determine your provincial constituency
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url =http://www.textiles.ca/eng/nonAuthProg/redirect.cfm?path=IssPolContacts&sectionID=7601.cfm
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The town of Shaunavon is situated in Southwest Saskatchewan, 100 kilometres from Swift Current, 140 kilometres from the Alberta border and 100 kilometres from the Montana border. Shaunavon was established in 1913 and settled along a railroad line. Shaunavon hosted CBC's Fifth Annual Hockey Day in Canada on February 21, 2004.

Name Origin

The name Shaunavon is believed to be a combination of the names of Lord Shaughnessy and William Cornelius Van Horne, two of the four founders of the Canadian Pacific Railway, although there is inconclusive evidence that suggests otherwise. [Barry, Bill (1998) "People Places: The Dictionary of Saskatchewan Place Names", p. 327, Regina, Sask: People Places Publishing Ltd., ISBN 1-894022-19-X]

Demographics

Canada_CP_2006|pop=1,691|popDelta=-4.4%
landArea=5.10|popDensity=347.9|medianAge=41.8|medianAgeM=41.1|medianAgeF=42.7|privateDwell=861|privateDwellusual=871|medianHHIncome=Not Available

History

The Boomtown

In 1913, settlers came to the area that would later be known as Shaunavon. Under a deal by the government at the time, land could be purchased throughout the province for as little as $10 a quarter section after building a homestead on the quarter. While this brought settlers to the province, Shaunavon had an attraction that drew them especially to this region: water.

Water was essential for settlers and the water in the area was considered to be the purest and most plentiful. Within the course of one year, Shaunavon went from being a town of empty lots to a "Booming town" with a population in the thousands. As a result, the town gained the nickname “Boomtown.”

In 1914, the Canadian Pacific Railway brought the railroad through the community just for the purpose of having access to the water supply for their locomotives. It was another positive sign for the community. In an agriculture-based community, railroads are needed even to this day for grain and livestock to be sold to the world.Fact|date=August 2007

Water Capital of Canada

The royal visit by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of England in 1939 brought fame to the community when the water that was used for the royal visit was supplied by the community. The town gained the title “The water capital of Canada.”Fact|date=August 2007

The Skating Rink

Another important milestone in the community in the 1960s was the building of the public arena. With very little to do in the winter months, hockey was always a very important part of the community and an indoor facility was greatly needed. The centre included facilities for skating with artificial ice placed over the dirt ground. Later the extension for the curling rink was added to the existing facility and cement was added to the skating rink.

Rising insurance costs prompted the formation of Project 2002 – a plan to replace the rink with a more modern facility over the foundation of the old arena. With the new arena conforming to new building codes the price of insurance for the facility would be more affordable. Fundraisers such as the Canadian national women's hockey team visiting the Shaunavon Badgers and Hockey Day in Canada helped to raise funds for the new arena. Originally slated at $2 million, the price for the arena has grown to $6 million.Fact|date=August 2007

=Great Western Railway=

The removal of the Crow Rate, which covered the cost of shipping grain, left farmers having to pay to ship their grains to world markets. It became more economical for grain producers to ship to large terminals along the main line. This brought about the closure and demolition of many wooden grain elevators along the line to Shaunavon. In the late 1990s, the CPR announced its intentions to sell the track leading to the southwest to WestCan Rail, a railway salvage operation. Action was swift. Grain Producers formed a coalition to lobby WestCan Rail. A deal was made that formed the Great Western Railway to run the line as a shortline with the eventual plans to purchase the railway back from WestCan Rail. Meanwhile producers purchased the remaining standing wooden grain elevators in Shaunavon, Admiral, Eastend, Ponteix and Neville.

Today the Great Western Railway is owned by the coalition and continues to operate the shortline to southwest Saskatchewan. It is headquartered in Shaunavon.

Travel

Highways 37 and 13 connect to Shaunavon.
Shaunavon is served by the Shaunavon Airport.

Recreation

Shaunavon has many seasonal and year-round venues that help to boost tourism and entertain residents.

The Grand Coteau Heritage Centre is a museum and chapter library with a local art gallery and heritage exhibits on display. The Plaza Theatre on main street runs both movies and theatrical shows. During the summer months the skating rink serves as a community centre for various events and in the fall and winter is covered with ice again for both skating and curling.

In the summer months an outdoor recreation swimming pool is available and a 9-hole golf course is also open. Camping is available at the Shawnee Campground adjacent to Memorial Park in the heart of the town.

Annual events

Showarama occurs in the spring showcasing merchants in and around the community.Boomtown Days and the Pro-Rodeo occur during the summer.

Media

*"Shaunavon Standard" - Weekly newspaper featuring news from Shaunavon and surrounding communities.
*CJSN 1490 Radio - Shaunavon has a 1000 Watt station that simucasts CKSW radio, with local inserts and a half hour of local programming daily.
*Boomtown News - Daily "Coffee row" publication.

Education

* [http://www.shs.ssd.sk.ca/ Shaunavon High School] (grades 8 - 12)
* [http://www.saskschools.ca/schoolinfo/416.htm Shaunavon Public School] (grades K - 7)
* [http://cks.htcsd.ca/ Christ the King School] (grades K - 7)
*Cypress Hills College

Famous Shaunavonians

*Dwain Lingenfelter, former Deputy Premier of Saskatchewan.
*Braydon Coburn, current NHL player.
*Rhett Warrener, current NHL player.
*Shaun Van Allen, former NHL player.
*Hayley Wickenheiser, member of Canada's women's hockey team.

See also

* List of communities in Saskatchewan
* List of towns in Saskatchewan

Canadian City Geographic Location (8-way)
Northwest =

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External links

* [http://www.shaunavon.com/ Shaunavon.com]
* [http://www.municipal.gov.sk.ca/apps/Pub/MDS/muniDetails.aspx?cat=2&mun=2203 Shaunavon Town Council]
* [http://www.becquet.com/director/maps/index.htm Saskatchewan City & Town Maps]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~cansk/school/ Saskatchewan Gen Web - One Room School Project ]
* [http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/post-offices/001001-119.01-e.php?&isn_id_nbr=11950&interval=24&&PHPSESSID=8i6ub9sji7lu5t7oc2uis598t5 Post office history]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~cansk Saskatchewan Gen Web Region]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~canmaps/index.html Online Historical Map Digitization Project]
* [http://geonames.nrcan.gc.ca/search/search_e.php GeoNames Query ]
* [http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Index.cfm?Lang=E 2006 Community Profiles]

Footnotes